We’re delighted to be premiering Nealo’s new single ‘Just My Luck’, featuring Molly Sterling and INNRSPACE.

The Dublin MC came to our attention last year with the release of October Year, his debut EP. Despite being a latecomer, the EP made a strong enough impression with us that we included the MC in our artists to love in 2019 list.

‘Just My Luck’ is the first in the follow up to that material.

It’s immediately clear the track is a step up in overall quality. Gone is the lo-fi charisma of the EP. In its place instead is a vibrant mix. Nealo’s vocals come through with so much in the way of warmth and clarity. The instrumental, written and recorded by Irish instrumental group INNRSPACE, is smooth nu-R&B cut. The group are comprised of Uly, Fiachra Kinder and Adam Garrett. Obviously, Nealo’s invested the right resources into giving this new single a push into the next level of sound quality.

The standard of content, in terms of delivery and lyricism, remains impressively high on the new single. Nealo’s lyrics stand out among all of Irish hip-hop as having a real human edge. A universality and empathy working in tandem with his narrative style.

‘Just My Luck’ is written from the perspective of someone losing their partner because of their alcohol use. Here’s what the artist had to say on the track. “A liquid engrained in every birthday party, communion, confirmation, baptism, wedding, and funeral. We look forward to drinking it on a Friday night, and then wake up with sore heads in the morning and go do it all over again. ‘Just My Luck’ is a song about the perils of alcohol in a relationship. It’s an inner monologue from the perspective of a person who’s other half is leaving them because they just can’t for the life of them seem to give up the pints. It’s both light hearted and reflective, catchy, but also sombre. It’s happy, and sad at the same time.”

‘Just My Luck’ is the sound of an artist striving to move up to the next level. It’s also a wonderful track and a strong reminder that Nealo is one of my favourite Irish hip-hop artists.

Nealo plays Whelan’s Upstairs on March 30th. Tickets, at €15+, are on sale now here.